Curved handle wrench for relatively inaccessible threaded objects



Sept. 2, 1947. I M, -11s 4 2,426,763

CURVED HANDLE WRENCH FOR RELATIVELY INACCESSIBLE THREADED OBJECTS Fi led Oct. 6, 194:5

INVENTOR. 550/! M. Cumz'o A r-omvera.

Patented Sept. 2. 1 947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. f

CURVED HANDLE WRENCH FOR RELATIVE LY INACCESS-IBLE THREADED OBJECTS Earl Curtis, Paw Paw, Mien- Application October 6, 1943, Serial No. 505,183

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in curved handle wrench for relatively inaccessible threaded objects.

The main objects of this invention are:

. First, to provide a Wrench which is well adapted and effective for use in the manipulation of bolts or threaded members in relatively inaccessible positions such, for example, as between crankshaft bearings and flywheels or clutch members or the like.

Second, to provide a wrench which greatly facilitates the assembling and disassembling of parts particularly in motor vehicles where the bolts or nuts are closely adjacent to other parts.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The. invention is defined and pointed out. in the claims.

A preferred. embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in

which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved wrench.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation illustrating the operation of the wrench by full and dotted lines, the view being partially in section on line 22 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section on line 3-3 of Fig.2.

In the accompanying drawing, I illustrate the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine I, its bearing 2, flywheel 3, and the packing designated generally by the numeral 4 for the purpose of illustrating one use of my improved wrench. A packing assembly is secured by means of the lag screws 5.

It will be noted that the space between the end of the bearing and crankshaft flange 6 and flywheel 3 is very restricted and these are usual- 1y positioned in a motor vehicle where the accessibility is further restricted bybody and chassis elements and commonly a relatively large amount of time is required in assembling and replacing these part and similar parts and the work is arduous and requires considerable skill.

M improved wrench comprises an elongated S-shaped handle I having a wrench member 8 pivoted to one end and a wrench member 9 pivotally connected to the other end. These wrench members have relatively short shanks as is clearly shown in the drawing. The pivots are set .up to the point where they provide means for (o1. si -119) 2 g handleandthe: wrench or jaw members, these being preferably dished spring washers which secure the desired friction. This provides: means forholding the wrench or. jaw members in their adjustedpositions for conveniently engaging with the work in; various positions and at the same time permits the actuation of the wrench or jaw members by; a longitudinal reciprocating movemerit of the handle. The rivets which constitute the pivots may be set up to secure the desired. frictions without the use of springwashers or; a' friction disk maybe interposed between the shanks of the jaw members and the handle but the springwasher is preferred.

The wrench or jaw member 8 is of theopen jaw type: openingradially outwardly from the pivot HF of the jaw member and adapted to be slipped laterally upon the head of a bolt or upon a nut or adapted to beengageable over the work by movement of. the jaw member in a direction radially thereof.. The jaw member 9' is of the socket typehaving a-closed Work receiving jaw t2; with a plurality of internal work engaging teeth [3. The curved ofiset endportion at each end of the handle provided by the S-shape of the same permits each jaw member to be adjusted to an operative position substantially laterally ofiset from an end portion and to extend substantially parallel to the general direction of the handle, as is shown substantially in Fig. 2.

With my improved wrench, the placing and removing of lag screws, nuts and the like in relatively inaccessible positions is g y exp dited and the work is greatly expedited as well as 1essening the strain and fatigue on the operator.

By making the handle of S-shape, it is easy to grasp and manipulate when using either jaw member and by making it thin it can be worked and manipulated in confined or restricted spaces and constitutes a minimum of obstruction to the vision of the user. It should be noted that the jaw of the jaw member 8 opening radially out wardly away from the pivot I0 of the jaw member permits the jaw to be engaged over the head of an upper lag screw 5 by a thrust in a direction more or less longitudinally of the jaw member and directly against the pivot. This greatly facilitates engagement of the jaw with the head of said upper lag screw, since it minimizes tendency of the jaw member to turn in effecting such engagement. Also the jaw member 8 is pivotally adjustable on the handle 1 to a position that permits the open end of the jaw to engage the head of the upper lag screw '5 by a thrust in a direction substantially longitudinally of said handle and away from said jaw member. This in combination with the curved end of the handle to v which the relatively short jaw member 8 is pivoted facilitates engagement of the jaw with the head of the upper lag screw and the turning thereof. stantially vertically to effect such operations and requires relatively little space. V

I have illustrated a ver practical embodiment of my invention. I have not attempted to illus- The handle l0 may be operated subtrate certain modifications in the matter of de- 7 sign as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adaptmy invention as may be desired. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a wrench, the combination of a relatively I long handle having a curved offset end portion, of a jaw member having a relatively short shank pivoted to the outer end of said curved offset end portion, the pivot being transverse to the plane of the curved ofiset end portion and transverse to th jaw member and frictionally holdingthe jaw member in difierent positions of adjustmenton that side of the handle as is located thecurved ofiset end portion, said jaw member being of the open jaw type opening radially outward from the pivot of said jaw member to permit the jaw member to be engaged with the work by a thrust of the jaw member in a direction longitudinally thereof and towards said pivot, said jaw member being pivotally adjustable on said handle to a position that permits the open end of the jaw to engage the work by a thrust in a direction su'b-' from said jaw member, said curved ofiset end portion being of a curvature and dimensions to permit said .jaw member for substantially the entire length thereof to b pivotally adjusted to anoperative position substantially laterally offset 2. In a wrench, the combination with a relatively long substantially S-shaped handle, sofa V jaw member having a relatively'short shank pivotedto one end of said handle to swing substan-c tially in the plane of the curved end to which it is pivoted and on the inner curved side of said 7 end, and a friction element associated with the' pivot, handle and jaw member for frictionally' holding the jaw member in difierentv positions of adjustment for engagement with the work, said shank having a jaw at the outer end thereof, said jaw being of the open jaw type and opening radially outwardly away from the pivot of said shank to permit the jaw to be engaged with the work by a thrust on the jaw member in a direc tion substantiall towards said pivot, said jaw member being pivotally adjustable on said handle to a position that permits the open end of said jaw to engage the work by a thrust in a direction substantially longitudinally of the handle and away from said jaw membenthe curved end por-' tion of the handle to which said jaw member is stantiall longitudinally of the'handle and away 7 from said end portion when the jaw member ex- V tends substantially parallelto the general direction of the handle.

pivoted being of a curvature and, dimensions to permit substantially the entire length of said jaw member being substantially spaced from said curved end portion when the jaw member extends substantially parallel to the general direction of the handle. 7 I EARL M; CURTIS.

REFERENCES crr Dj The followingreferences are of record in the V file of ,this patents. I

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number I Name 7 Date 3 1 7 635,562 Marschotz Oct. 24, 1899' 2,138,725 7 Brouhard Nov. 29, 1938 2,156,285 Harris May 2, 1 939 1,924,023 Carlberg Aug.'22, l933 u "FOREIGN PATENTS V r s Number 7 V Country Date France Dec. 28,1931 

